Samsung presents 60GB 1.8-inch HDD - only 5mm tall

Samsung is the first to introduce a 1.8-inch HDD with 60GB capacity in a super-slim form factor that is only 5mm tall. Samsung’s sleek new 1.8-inch N-series features 20GB, 30GB, 40GB and 60GB per disk capacities – the largest one-disk storage capacity offered by any drive on the market today. Samsung’s 1.8-inch N-series is currently shipping.

Until now, two disks were required to reach a 60GB storage capacity in a 1.8-inch drive, which increased the height and size of the drive. Samsung’s N-series utilizes perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) technology to offer 60GBs on a single disk. As a result, Samsung is the first to offer a 60GB solution in the slimmest available 5-millimeter form factor. This makes the drive ideal for use in small portable media centers and mobile music devices.

Samsung’s 1.8-inch hard drives are among the quietest on the market today, with just 1.8 Bel, a measurement of sound. As the sound level detectable by the human ear is 2 Bel, this makes the operating sound of the new drives undetectable to the human ear. In addition, the N-series features ultra-low power consumption that is just .3 watts in low power idle.

Samsung’s N-series utilize PMR technology to achieve such a high level of storage capacity per disk. Unlike traditional longitudinal recording technology, which lays data bits end to end where they can flip and corrupt data on the disc, PMR technology places the data bits perpendicular to the disc, which reduces the corruption factor. In addition, by placing the data bits standing on end, more data can fit onto a disc, allowing for greater storage capacity.

Samsung’s 1.8-inch drives feature an ultra low power mobile SoC, a quiet and robust platform design, fast drive ready time, high efficient hybrid latch system, shock sensor and free fall sensor which is optional. All are equipped with a 4,200-rpm spindle speed, and 7.14-millisecond average seek time and a 2MB data buffer.